Stand Your Ground

Have you ever been wrongly judged or assessed in a situation and it drove you utterly nuts? What did you do? Stand your ground or smiled it away? I know someone that is not so easily pushed around..
My new found sister, Francina Norman (yes she is! we share the same royal blood-Jesus-so she is stuck with me whether she knows it not or likes it not, na she sabi..lol) shared an hilarious experience recently that got everyone reeling in laughter at the just concluded Authentic Woman Conference which held in Dublin.

Prophetess Francina Norman

 Francina had boarded a first class cabin on a plane and was minding her business when a strange man walked up to her and said her husband must be a basketball player for her to be able to afford the ticket! Well I've never sat in the first class cabin of an aeroplane so can't offer an appropriate description of what it looks like or the "calibre" of people that do. You can either Google or lets imagine the travel experience together. If you have on the other hand, inbox me the details or get me a ticket so my experience can be factual..lol.

 In true Francina fashion, she told the man her husband was not a footballer but a drug dealer and asked if the man wanted to be a customer!. Her response threw the man off balance and drew an applause from the other passengers. Imagine the audacity!  Of course, Francina was messing with the man but it put him back in his place. She stood her ground and did not allow the strange man's "warped" criteria for who qualifies to sit in first class ruffle her feathers. As long as she could buy the ticket then she qualifies!

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Many times, certain situations or people try to intimidate us, setting barriers and standards as to where we can go, what we can achieve, success level that we can aspire to or attain. Society and culture also  attempt to determine what one qualifies for. However, sometimes the enemy might be within, closer than you think. This has nothing to do with your background or environment  rather opinions formed by experiences. It could be  a past experience trying to  set limits on  future glories.  Who say's you can't have a life after a divorce? Or find marital bliss as a single parent? or even have a financial breakthrough after several financial mistakes? STAND YOUR GROUND! Other times it could be the issue of gender or skin colour, it doesn't matter, STAND YOUR GROUND!. Thank God Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger when she was forced to. She knew she deserved better treatment as a human being and STOOD HER GROUND against racial discrimination.

Rosa Parks

Her bravery  gained her international recognition and helped repeal an unfair law. David was no stranger to intimidation especially from his household. He had journeyed to the battle front to give "bread" to his brothers only to find the Israelite army cowering before the philistine giant.

 David saw a glory moment and wanted to take it but the first opposition came from his brothers. "But when David's oldest brother, Eliab heard David talking to the men, he was angry. " what are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded. "What about those few sheep you'r supposed to be taking care of? I kow about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!" 1Samuel 17:28. The brothers were determined to cap his ambition.

But David was having none of that "what have i done now? David replied. I was only asking a question...then David's question was reported to the king and the king sent for him" vrs 29-31. Well before his physical combat on the battle field, David's bold questions got the king's attention.

 Imagine if he'd allowed his brother's intimidation to re-route his ambition and sent him home. 

I tell autism daily "you are not having my son" "Joshua was bought at a price"  "Joshua is healed". Everyday I stand up to the nay sayers, mistakes, wrong choices even the inner voices that want to derail my vision.  In the words of Paula White "Since you did not save me, you cannot judge me"! STAND UP TO THE PAST! STAND UP TO YOUR MISTAKES! STAND UP TO YOUR NAY SAYERS! If you will do anything today STAND UP FOR YOUR GOALS, STAND UP FOR JESUS, STAND YOUR GROUND.

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Time to be brave.

I read an interesting post on UCB devotionals and it really inspired me. It’s about living fearlessly. The concept of struggles is not a strange phenomenon to the human existence. Since sin entered man, there has been the constant struggle between good and evil but with Jesus came victory. Sometimes man in his frailties can be overwhelmed by struggles and fears constantly. Have you ever watched a movie that shows a drowning man being rescued? In his fear, the drowning man struggles and flaps his arms but most of his self-efforts mostly drain him of energy. However, as any life saver knows, you cannot save a drowning man unless he stops struggling. It takes bravery to be calm in crisis. It takes bravery to lean on the arm of an unseen saviour and trusting He is able to rescue by FAITH. Fears cripples and rubs a person off the ability to live a full life. It has the possibility to kill before an unlikely or envisaged negative circumstance does. The Irish government has made plans to reduce the number of police men and close stations to curb public sector spending’s. This announcement has left people fearful about security of lives and properties on the back of a waning economic situation. The day I heard the news, I simply prayed and handed my worries to God. Of course fear almost crept into my heart but I refused it access into my heart and home. In past years, I would have had a panic attack and crumbled under the negative news but I realised it was time to be brave and not fearful. My new mind-set did not happen over by night, it was a gradual process and a conscious choice to be brave in times of adversity. In the words of Playwright David Mamet, We all die in the end, but there’s no reason to die in the middle. Sometimes a medical diagnosis has the potential to kill than an actual illness. I did an HIV/AIDS test in 2004 and before the result came I contemplated jumping from the first floor of the hospital laboratory if the report was negative. I almost had a heart attack when the doctor came with an ominous look on his face only to tell me I needed to come back for the results which turned out to be negative. Phew!! I have learnt to exchange every lie with the truth of God’s words and in that I have peace. So can you. It is time to grab the bull by the horn and live the abundant life that is in Christ Jesus. It is time to be brave and that includes the mountain of dirty dishes in my kitchen sink!! "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment" 2 Timothy 1:7